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dansmitherson
newbie
Reged: 01/15/09
Posts: 2
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Hi, I am looking at getting the Barska 20-100x70 Gladiator zoom Bino's for Astronomy.
I had a Etx125 that I never used due to the size and have since sold it.
I would like something to view for short periods of time, and also have a zoom so have the ability to view planets.
The Barska 20-100x70 seems to be a good size/compromise between being able to hand hold when required or mount.
Are there any other zoom suggestions that are far better?
I see there are Barska 25-14x80
thanks
Jai
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 8692
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Zoom binos are generally not worth the money, nor the time you'll spend finding this out. The field of view(s) are too variable, the image dims too much, and the Zoom mechanisms are not made to the level of precision necessary.
If you want a Bino that takes differing ep's, the minimum that I, or those with more knowledge would recomend would be along the lines of the Orion 70mm Binoscope. Just my $.02 USD.
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55
Starhopper 6" Dob
Spaceprobe 130EQ
Black C8 OTA
WO Zenith Star 66 Patriot Edition
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
8X42 Bushnell H2O Porro
7X35 Tasco
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters
Dell Inspiron Dual Core 531s
"Science without Religion is lame, Religion without Science is blind" A.Einstein.
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 8692
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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BTW, WELCOME TO CN!!
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55
Starhopper 6" Dob
Spaceprobe 130EQ
Black C8 OTA
WO Zenith Star 66 Patriot Edition
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
8X42 Bushnell H2O Porro
7X35 Tasco
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters
Dell Inspiron Dual Core 531s
"Science without Religion is lame, Religion without Science is blind" A.Einstein.
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3735
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Jai,
Welcome to CN.
Have you had a chance to look thru a pair of 20-100X or 25-140X binos? If not make sure the seller has a 100% money back policy.
You can find more info about zooms here:
Zoom Bino Caution
Spend your funds on a pair of quality 20X80s and a decent tripod and you'll be MUCH happier.
If you are in the US look into Bigbinoculars.com or garettoptical.com.
You can find links to both at the CN home page.
ERik D
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Lethe
member
Reged: 12/27/08
Posts: 43
Loc: Pompey, England 50.801, -1.075
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One word - don't.
My first pair was 25-125x80 and during the day they are not bad really on the lowest setting - but any adjustment at all (focus, ipd etc.) they go out of alignment and I had to juggle around with the zoom lever to get the eye pieces back in sync.
Also, at night, the collimation is so wayward (i.e. it changes just by handling the things) they are pretty much annoying as you spend more time adjusting them than looking through them.
Also chromatic aberration is seen too.
And the zoom is useless at night anyway.
I ending up getting Bresser 20x60's, and these are 100% better in all ways.
Nick
P.S. of course, maybe I got a bad pair, I don't know, but take the advice of any decent astronomy site and do not use zoom binoculars for astronomy.
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Free Software Foundation Associate Member 5508
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dansmitherson
newbie
Reged: 01/15/09
Posts: 2
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Thanks for the advice, I will not purchase zoom bino's I think I'll get a 20x80 fixed.
Are there any images on the net or on the site that give you examples of what the views of planets may look like through a set of 20x80's?
thanks
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Lethe
member
Reged: 12/27/08
Posts: 43
Loc: Pompey, England 50.801, -1.075
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You will see the phases of Venus. You will discern Jupiter as a planet (disc) as opposed to a star and the 4 Galilean moons are easily visible. You will see Saturn as a bright star, almost disc like, and on a good night you can tell something is wrong with it (i.e. it looks bulged). Mercury will be a fiery red star, and again at the right time of year (like now in the northern hemisphere) you can see it is a planet.
The moon will look spectacular.
I have yet to find Uranus, and Mars is not yet in the sky for me.
This is the sort of way Jupiter will look like, maybe perhaps a bit smaller:
Nick
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Free Software Foundation Associate Member 5508
Edited by Lethe (01/16/09 07:33 AM)
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3735
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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No ready image of Jupiter and Saturn in binos but this review article offers a brief discussion of the view thru two 20X binoculars:
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=178
There are many reviews of 80 mm binoculars on CN. Also look in our 406 Binocular mini-review thread near the top of this forum for link to other reviews listed alphabetically.
I enjoy viewing Jupiter's mini solar system at 20X with two eyes. But 30X+ is preferred if you want to see more details of the planets. I rarely use my 80mm F5 refractor these days, but when I look at the planets it's usually at 88X.
If your main interest is viewing the planets under light polluted sky you may want to consider a 80mm ED scope instead. The Optical Tube Assembly is under $500:
http://www.company7.com/orion/telescopes/orion80EDf7.5.html
Orion 80mm ED review: http://www.novac.com/resources/reviews/orion80ed.php
Many people decide to upgrade after they use the 80mm scope for a while. You can probably find used 80mm EDs in excellent condition with diagonal and and extra EPs for less than $500. An 80mm F5 non ED version can be had for under $250.
20X80 configuration is an excellent all around giant binocular. Several CN members also have 30X100s but that's a much larger bino( 10lbs) and require a robust fluid head to mount.
All depends on your budget and preference. If you were thinking of spending ~$150 for the 70 mm Barsaka zoom a pair of quality 20X80 LWs will be the closest in price.
You will need a tripod and tripod adapter. Another option:
Barska 30X80
ERik D
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edwincjones
Postmaster
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 5944
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zoom eps (for telescoopes) are fun-if they work; but zooms are harder to make, and the good ones are expensive. So far, noone has been able to make a decent zoom binocular (that I know of).
edj
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n w arkansas
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